Rebekah Caldwell Mason, a married mother of three from Bentley's home base of Tuscaloosa, was the governor's mistress in an affair that sources say raises a number of possible legal issues--including use of the state jet and a state trooper's services for personal reasons that had nothing to do with Bentley's official role.

According to Dianne Bentley's divorce complaint, the couple separated in January 2015 because of a "complete incompatibility of temperament" and a "conflict of personalities which destroys the legitimate aims of matrimony." In fact, sources say, Gov. Bentley's affair with Mason destroyed the matrimonial bonds.

The 72-year-old Bentley, a Republican serving in his second term, repeatedly has touted his Christian faith and conservative "family values" to attract voters. He long has served as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa. Bentley made national headlines in 2011 when, shortly after his inauguration, he said, ""Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister. And I want to be your brother."

Rebekah Caldwell Mason, sources say, quickly became more than just a communications director to Bentley. Their affair became so widely known that it diluted any moral authority the governor might have had. "He's been impotent as governor for at least the last six months," one source told Legal Schnauzer. "People have been going into his office and saying, 'Do what I want or I'm going to play the girlfriend card.' People have been running all over him."

Who is Rebekah Caldwell Mason? She first came to public attention while serving as press secretary for Bentley's 2010 campaign. When Bentley rose from relative obscurity to win the GOP primary and defeat Democrat Ron Sparks in the general election, Mason became the new governor's communications director.

On Twitter, Mason describes herself as follows:

Wife, Mom of 3. Fan of Football. Business Owner. Senior Advisor for a great Gov. Love Family, Jesus and Reece's (sic) Cups. Not necessarily in that order.

Sources describe Mason as "between the ages of 38 and 40," meaning she is more than 30 years Bentley's junior. She is a former television newscaster and the wife of a former TV weatherman. An article at Yellowhammer News, portrays her as a highly influential figure in the governor's camp:

It’s easy to forget, but there was a time when Robert Bentley was a little-known state representative from Tuscaloosa launching a long-shot bid for governor. Very few people believed he had much of a chance against better funded candidates. But Mason was one of the true believers from the very beginning.

After Bentley was elected, Mason came into the administration as Communications Director. Bentley World has been basically devoid of controversy, which can be attributed in part to Mason’s deft handling of the communications shop.

Now that she’s moved outside of the administration, it’s freed her up to take on a greater role in shaping the big-picture direction of the governor’s office and re-election campaign, rather than having to get bogged down in the day-to-day operations.

Staffers and administration officials frequently bring problems or ideas to Mason first to find out how to best present them to the governor. And she’s written or refined pretty much any important speech or comment the governor has given over the last four years.

“Rebekah’s the governor’s voice,” one senior administration staffer told Yellowhammer. “I don’t think you can overstate how influential she is when it comes to the message the public hears from this governor.”

As it turns out, Mason might have been too influential. The Bentley-Mason affair, in the aftermath of Dianne Bentley's divorce complaint, has left the governor's administration teetering. Legal fallout from the affair could have ugly consequences, including Bentley's resignation and a possible criminal investigation. From one source:

I have . . . been told that Bentley's trooper facilitated the affair, and that the state jet was used extensively to facilitate it. And that Bentley and Mason actually used it as a bedroom at times when Mrs. Bentley was still living in the mansion. . . . The use of state resources to facilitate an affair would surely violate state law; guess it would be difficult to prove since I'm sure the woman's name likely did not appear on the jet's flight log.

193 comments:

Cliff Sims of the highly uncredible propaganda sheet "yellowstain news" has been trying mightily to get someone to go with this story for months, even as he kissed Bentley's rear to get him to appear at a big fundraiser for yellowstain.

I'm sure this started with a dermatology exam. She asked him to check a sun spot on her neck and he said, "Oh, that's nothing. But just to make sure, I need you to disrobe, so I can check for any other possible abnormalities." Bentley was just trying to give a thorough skin exam.

And . . . once again, Alabamians get their news from a blogger, a real journalist who isn't bought or sold for anybody. How long will the clowns at al.com stay asleep at the wheel on this story. Thank you, Mr. Schnauzer. Without you, I don't know what we would do for real news.

Sad in deed that after all those years it is ending. I bet that someone, somewhere is not getting what they need and it's not always about sex. The fastest sure fire way to end a relationship if for one of the two parties to stop supporting the other. When you're in the game of life, you're getting your rear end kicked up one side of the field down the other, and you turn to look into the stands hoping to see your better half cheering you on, but you see no one. The day you come to know that your partner, husband/wife no longer has your back, is no longer cheering you on, no longer supporting you, that is the day you when you feel that nothing matters anymore. Divorce, court action, having everyone talk about you, all of it means nothing anymore. What you knew as the truth for all those years is no longer the same, everything you had worked a lifetime for is gone. You are on your own now, for better or worst. There is truth in the words, One is the loneliest number, is the number 1 I'm not a big fan of the governor, but I wish on no one the pain of having your love one stop loving/caring for you. There is no bigger fear that knowing you're facing the world without having anyone who loves or supports you coving your back:-(

You are on target, @10:43. And it most certainly is journalism when taxpayer dollars apparently have been used to facilitate a personal matter--in this case, an extramarital affair. At the moment, I'm not sure how much public money has been used in Le Affair Mason, but I would not be surprised if it ends up being more than $1 million. That raises criminal issues, so this is an extremely important story. No one forced Guv. Bentley and Ms. Mason to enter the public arena. They could have remained private citizens, and no one would have cared about their extracurricular activities. But when they are supported by taxpayer dollars and state resources, the ballgame changes radically.

legalshanuzer .... Do you fly on planes ? Do people who molest children fly on planes ? You want to comment on that ? ... see how I did that ? You are a sorry sack of crap for spreading rumor ... nice thing is that you posted enough for a libel and defamation charge against you ...hope you enjoy courtrooms....

Do I fly on planes? Do I molest children on planes? Have no idea what you are talking about. Are you off your meds today, @11:17?

I would be happy to comment on any question you want to ask me. Send me an e-mail at rshuler3156@gmail.com, providing your real name and contact info, and I would be glad to schedule a time for your interview, of me.

John Merrill is PO'd because Bentley beat him to RCM. I hear Merrill's consolation prize was a fine young consultant thing from Huntsville. And based on the photos I've seen, she's a mighty fine consolation prize.

Do I think I will get sued again, @2:11? I have no idea. I do know this: I've been sued twice in a journalism career of 36 years--and the two suits came within roughly one month of each other, from members of Alabama's Riley/Strange/Pryor right-wing orbit. Both almost certainly were prompted by my accurate reporting on Bill Pryor's history with gay porn.

Curiously, the two suits bookended my unlawful incarceration of five months. Even more curiously, my reporting in the two cases never has been found to be false and defamatory at trial--because neither opposing side wanted a trial. In one case, Rob Riley never stated under oath (as in an affidavit) that my reporting was false. In the other, Jessica Medeiros Garrison and Luther Strange only appeared in court when they knew my wife and I had been forced out of our home, and I and would not be able to appear to challenge anything they said. Have LS/JMG ever responded to interrogatories? Nope. Have they ever sat for a deposition? Nope. Have they ever testified under oath before a jury? Nope. Have they been under the pressure of cross-examination? Nope. Have they ever agreed to have JMG's sealed divorce file made public? Nope.

Is it possible that they were involved in a conspiracy to cheat us out of our house via a wrongful foreclosure? Yep. Who benefited most from the foreclosure? Lutha and Jessica.

I appreciate your posting this. I've got to admit, I knew a good bit of the contents of this article by 5:00 last Friday afternoon. Basically, if you donated to the campaign, you have an insight to almost anything. Now that the case is sealed, they, of course, are hoping this information all goes away.

Yes, indeed, sad. Mr Bentley should have set her free before he gave what was Mrs.'s away. What done is done. The relationship can NEVER be what it was. Vows have been broken. For Mrs. B to stay will only keep her a prisoner at heart, knowing what she knows. I can assure you Mrs B WILL NOT have to sing the lonely #1 song. I highly suspect he will. If you don't want someone, just LEAVE. GREED....JUST PURE GREED. ... in more ways than one

The governor is "impotent?" On the contrary, he runs over his staff and everyone else. No one is playing "the girlfriend card." Everyone has know about this since last fall - everyone that knows anything, anyway. Do you really think he'd be battling the legislature all year long if he was "impotent?" Your source sucks. And I say that as someone who thinks the governor is a jerk and has bad political sense. This affair is not news to anyone in Montgomery.

Sir, whose back are u speaking of? What about the shame and disgrace MRS Bentley is feeling? That is why I am disenchanted with organized religion. They go to church, they hear the Word, they talk the talk BUT they don't walk the walk! The woman is nothing and do you think for a moment that woman will leave everything she had with her family for HIM? I don't think so.

The Governor's arrogance has grown mightily over the past year. He believes he is smarter than everyone around him, knows more and rarely listens to his staff. He is nothing more than a back bench former legislator who did nothing then, had no qualifications to be Governor once much less twice. His budget proposals have been weak and his solutions to the state's fiscal issues nothing short of pathetic. It seems he should have kept his eye on the dice to which he was elected as opposed to something else entirely. So now we must ask---karma's a b----, eh Governor?

Replying to my own: Upon reflection, as a retired State Employee, expected to provide adult supervision to the pols, a similar situation arose involving a guy in a 'lower' office. I said something about it to a female coworker, who replied, "Around here we call women like that "Power F'krs" cause they're only interested in getting something out of a man in position to give to or do something for them!" That was years ago. Some things never change.

LOL Then I suppose you will have to charge everyone because he isn't the only person dropping these claims... as a matter of fact someone in the Capitol said that today was like a soap opera up there. Besides, this is the GOVERNOR WE elected and WE have a RIGHT to know what he is doing/has done with our tax dollars... especially when he is trying to raise taxes. So go crawl back in your hole.

Congratulations Roger on a well done story. Now drive the stake home and file a criminal complaint especially on the use of the jet and use Alabama's never used "Adultery Statute against Bentley". I'm sure it's still on the books - look it up and file a criminal complaint. This has to be a point you can drive home nationally as everyone if fed up with politicians screwing us and their girl-friends on our nickel.

I have also heard that Bentley paid his Trooper body guard to keep it quiet, from State Funds! Something really stinks when he's closing down all of our drivers license offices October 1, but he can pay a Trooper close to $1 million to keep quiet and protect him/them?! Hello??!!

Please post any PROOF you have of an affair ? That means pictures or signed statements or video...you know ....proofy things...I didn't think so... also please post this so your readers can know you have done this before where you make up stories and then get sued and lose 3.5 million dollars ... but I bet you are too much of a coward to post this...

Oh yes. Anonymous 10:26.why not YOU show there isn't? It's been known for a lost a year among all in the know in Montgomery---yet you act indignant over the exposing of a truth all have known-oh yes and by the way mrs Bentley has filed to divorce with a pretty clear view of problems--and you want to blame the writer? So you work for him? Or her? Stop the spin. It's all in the public realm....moron

So posting a character assassination with NO PROOF and just repeating rumors is courageous ????? Still didn't post any proof....still waiting...by the way you know you are going to jail again.... you know that right ?

I'm not the one writing this hit piece or the one who lost a judgement for defamation...you would have thought you would have learned your lesson the first time you lost 3.5 million dollars for doing the exact same thing .... but you dont have a pot to piss in so I guess you dont rally care do you ?

10.26--you must be on the payroll or drinking the Bentley/mason Koolaid. Your comments are both idiotic and out of touch. This has been a known event for nearly a year by even his own staff's admission. Either get in touch or leave the conversation. Oh gee. How about demanding that your governor and his concubine prove otherwise??? Encourage them to file suit for whatever is available under the law????? Fact is. It is fact and they won't and you continue to look like a fool ( Neil young southern man ring a bell?) by referencing things that have zero to do with the Bentley affair.

Oh yes, @10,26. Affairs always involved sworn statements a host of avenues of proof and lots of forensic evidence--as I am sure you know. :). I keep looking for a word for you but the. Only one that comes to mind, repeatedly is MORON.

11.09---once an idiot always an idiot--- what proof would satisfy you to validate an affair? If you were to have an affair what would you want to make sure existed so as to prove to your spouse that you were or weren't having an affair? Stupid contention. Pretty clear since neither mason nor the honorable Bentley camp have denied or pretreated vociferously.....yet you ask for photos or video--sicko--how many affairs through the ages can you provide that have tangible proof that can be published to satisfy "your excellency's" desires....-again I return to my initial reference ---idiot---

You are making it about you. You demand this and that, but you have no courage behind your convictions, whatever they are. I have zero respect for the man who is too afraid to put his name in the arena. You know my name and you have my contact information. Send me an e-mail, ID yourself, provide your contact information, and we can discuss. Otherwise, I have no reason to waste my time with someone I don't respect and who obviously is ignorant of the law--or actually approves of abusive use of the law. Either way, you seem to be a pretty sorry individual.

Why would Roger go to jail? He printed the truth about Rob Riley, Bill Pryor, and Jessica Garrison, and even if he didn't, there were no grounds for sending him to jail the first time. It was simply an act of domestic terrorism, so I guess you support that? If that's the case, 11:23 is right, you are an idiot. You also are living in the wrong country. You should move to China or Turkey or some other third-rate backwater.

Remember this one when the defamation lawsuit when they took you to the woodshed ? Mrs. Mason's lawyers will be contacting you soon because she is not a public figure ..... you are gong back to jail to meet your boyfriend Bubba again !!! He missed you !!!!

Distinguishing between public and private figures for the purposes of defamation law is sometimes difficult. For an individual to be considered a public figure in all situations, the person's name must be so familiar as to be a household word—for example, Michael Jordan.

defamation (of character)n. the act of making untrue statements about another which damages his/her reputation. If the defamatory statement is printed or broadcast over the media it is libel and, if only oral, it is slander. Public figures, including officeholders and candidates have to show that the defamation was made with malicious intent and was not just fair comment. Damages for slander may be limited to actual (special) damages unless there is malice. Some statements such as an accusation of having committed a crime, having a feared disease, or being unable to perform one's occupation are called libel per se or slander and can more easily lead to large money awards in court and even punitive damage recovery by the person harmed. Most states provide for a demand for a printed retraction of defamation and only allow a lawsuit if there is no such admission of error.

Rebekah is around 38-40 years of age, Bentley is 72 years of age. What does she see in him? I'm trying to imagine what the two of them do together considering his age. When a male subject is 18 years younger than Bentley and Viagra doesn't work for him, I'm curious.

Mr. Shuler, your wife Carol did not ask for this life and she deserves better. Who are you to make her suffer? Why should she have to endure your hateful tirades against imagined persecutions? Why should she be dragged down by your sickness into the well of despair and poverty? Your tirades have cost you everything; your livelihood, your savings, your health and sanity. You are a selfish, miserable, self-loathing pig.

You are an inconsequential person and will ultimately suffer the wrath of the law and those whom you have libeled. Your decent into complete desolation will be slow and lasting and will strip everything from you, including your dignity.

Why take Carol down into the depths with you?

Do the right thing here Roger. If you care anything for this woman, do the right thing. She has suffered enough, hasn’t she?

Anonymous @11.39. Are you drinking? Drugging? Or just plain stupid? I'm guessing with great latitude it is the latter. Your conventions are without legal basis or even a barely informed position....Id or go away.

Moron at 11:57. This has nothing to do with anything or anyone other than Bentley and the concubine. Your references to anyone else are at best feeble and at worst nothing more than an an attempt to divert attention to your deacon buddy Bentley. Focus. Focus focus. This is about what the "gov" has done-- if you want to talk up other issues choose a relevant platform. This "ain't" it...

The fact is: Roger Shuler is a ‘wannabe journalist‘ who sits around in his basement dreaming up wild conjecture, conspiracy theories and defamatory content about politicians and other prominent citizens and public figures. He then writes an incoherent blog article filled with conjecture, lies and innuendo with absolutely no supporting evidence. Just outright lies and falsehoods with nothing to back up his allegations but a serious stretch of the imagination.

The biggest falsehood in all of Roger Shuler’s so-called reporting is to regard what he does as anything resembling journalism. He is no journalist. He has worked as a copy editor for the last 20 years. Let’s examine the facts according to his LinkedIn Profile:

From 1989 until his termination in 2008 he worked in the Publications Office of UAB editing publications for the School of Medicine, School of Business, School of Education, School of Nursing, School of Public Health, and others.

Being a copy editor does not make you a journalist or any kind of reporter. Creating a blog, making up defamatory stories and then harassing the object of your vitriol for a comment, does not make you a reporter.

If you carefully read many of the email responses or listen to any of the recorded conversations of any one of the people Roger Shuler has tried to source for one of his articles, you will see a continual pattern of denials and disgust from his targets. Roger Shuler then uses these denials to suggest that his targets would of course “deny his allegations” because they are covering their own tracks.

He has accused prominent citizens of everything under the sun, from child abuse, to gay porn, to secret abortions, to right wing conspiratorial nonsense. Where are his witnesses? Where are his sources? Can Roger Shuler verify any one of his so-called ‘reports’? Can he prove anything?

No, he cannot and he never will. You know why? Because he’s a sick whacko and attention seeker. That’s all Roger Shuler is. A wack job attention seeker.

Anybody could sit in their basement and start a blog about prominent local people. They could make up lies and defame prominent people. But you know where that person would wind up? In Jail. Roger Shuler is an attention seeking nut job. Don’t be fooled.

Anonymous at 12:10---so this is all dreamed up by a person who dares speak what everyone in Montgomery has known for at least a year? He is the reason mrs Bentley filed using the terms she used? he is at fault for the whole thing? Are you on drugs? Moron doesn't do it for you. Being paid by Bentley et al. Perhaps says it. All. Otherwise stop trying to kill the messenger because you don't like the truth. Or I forgot. The message...Bentley is almost as big an idiot as you.

A copy editor isn't a journalist? I'm sure that's going to be news to all the copy editors at newspapers, magazines, Web sites, and networks around the globe--almost of whom have degrees in journalism or communications. In fact, many of the people who go on to lead news organizations are former copy editors. They are the ones who know how the whole news-gathering function works, and that's why they often make way better newsroom leaders than reporters.

And, again---hard to stop after reads of the 12.10's posting--being a citizen protesting does not make you right and everyone else wrong. Being fired from a job does not make the statements made false. Even being a bad person does not make the affair untrue. Accusing the person with the intestinal fortitude to expose the truth does not make him wrong...for you, I'd suggest some counseling or even better. Shut the f up when trying to defend the indefensible. Remember, being the astute legal scholar you purport to be----the truth is an absolute defense...

U mad bro? LolWow.....sounds like someone is butthurt. You seem to spend a lot of time just trying to trash Roger. He must have hurt your fragile little ego at some point. I'm willing to bet, your reading, and typing your responses on the State of Alabama's dime.

I have a strange feeling that person whose trying to intimidate and discredIt Mr. Schuler has commented before and has a strong emotional attachment to what he writes. I get the feeling its a female. She won't let it go! I surmise that the person may be JMG.

He actually did not make up stories. YOU know the truth and WE know the truth. Just because your law firm is connected to Riley and you have the largest one in the state doesn't mean you can't crumble. Old retired Judges should have stayed off the bench and most importantly should have actually followed the law... you might want to go through his rulings and see which one I am talking about. You never know who knows who and he made a big mistake which will affect a LOT of cases... Your old Guv'na is about to face the music and hopefully take the rest of you down with him. So instead of defending him behind a screen trying to discredit someone else, you guys might think about distancing yourself. Get with the Indians and decide what you want to do about this... HAHAHAHAHA

For the record here is reporting from AL.com they neither deny nor confirm the affair. http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/08/gov_bentley_divorce_flight_rec.htmlThe truth will come out. I am in prayer for the Bentleys. If an affair was part of the reason, I pray that the guilty will do the right thing by all. If there was no affair, I pray that they as a couple can work together for the good of their family and those who surround them. I find myself saddened anytime a marriage dissolves.

Bobby, Bobby, Bobby your hanky panky has caught up with you Brother. You have followed in the "Big Footsteps" of "BIG JIM FOLSOM" in The Alabama Governor's Mansion! BIG JIM stayed drunk and lived the "Life of Wine, Women & Song"!

"BIG BOB BENTLEY" you have been SOBER, BIBLE BEARING BAPTIST, and NOT DRAWING ANY MONEY FOR YOU "JOB" for two terms. What is Your Excuse my Southern Baptist Brother?? You must have gotten you a penis implant or you have been "taking the Viagra samples provided from your old pharm buddies (-:)

We will get rid of your sorry ass in January 2017 at the same time we get rid of "The Sorry Ass in The Whitehouse" !

Maybe not during the flight...but what about we arrived a little early or stayed a little late for a quickie? The story only said they were thought to have used the plane. Didn't say it was in the air.

So, anonymous @ 11:17 ... I hate when people love to threaten and try to defame others and then do it under "anonymous." If you are so sure that what LS is saying is all BS, why don't come clean with who you are and stand behind what you say? Put your name to it and stand up for your comments. Otherwise STFU.

I would ask Jamie Martin who was on most of those flights. I know she used to work for the Montgomery Advertiser at one point. I'm kind of curious as to what her role was as photographer on those trips.

Not sure about the credibility of the information that Bentley had an affair, y'all need to lay off Roger regarding the show trials he got in the Riley & Medeiros cases. He has a right to publish without prior restraint and without being arrested like a criminal. The Constitution of Alabama said he had a right to a trial by jury with that jury having the right to determine the law as well as the facts so they could nullify a witch hunt by a politically motivated retired judge & Roger didn't get that. He got fucked by a broken system.

@9:33 amNot reprimanded? He was impeached. I believe everyone except people having extra-marital affairs and those pretending not to in the government thought it was wrong. The difference here is that Mrs. Bentley decided she couldn't live with it and he probably didn't want to end the affair. No one is dragging him before Congress to lie about it. It's a done deal. The President at the time did what any man trying to save his marriage would have done: lie. Yes, stood right there and committed perjury. Only, some people would think what they did wasn't "sexual relations". If you recall, that's what he said he wasn't having with that woman. He probably actually believed it. Much like some teens.

One can involuntarily become a public figure for defamation purposes by being drawn into a controversy which is of public interest. In this case I believe any judge would classify RCM as a public figure.

If this is true!!!!!!!! Wow! Let a woman do this and they are called trash. But a man gets a slap on the wrist or worse a pat on the back. Some people in this thread say she is attractive. I suppose beauty to them is a homewrecker. Or rather two of them. What is trashy is to do this to their families and the state. People need to realize that today when you do this you put your whole family at risk, health wise, status wise and politically. He destroyed his marriage of 50 years while preaching from the podium about being brothers and sister in Christ. If he can't be trusted by his wife and God how can we trust him? What a disappointment.

"He's been impotent as governor for at least the last six months," one source told Legal Schnauzer. "People have been going into his office and saying, 'Do what I want or I'm going to play the girlfriend card.' People have been running all over him."

This is why when public officials betray the trust of their spouse they surrender their independence and objectivity thereby undermining their ability to uphold the oath they took to serve their citizens. They effectively betray the citizens they swore to serve. I don't care what political jersey you wear this should be an impeachable offense.

Dr. Bentley was once my dermatologist. I didn't like him then, and I don't like him now. Mrs. Mason, however, I have known all of my life, pretty much. I know her entire family. She comes from good people and she is good people... I don't believe this. Heresay and circumstantial "proof" is all that I see here.

Probably the best thing to do @7:11 is to go to the search box in the upper left-hand corner of Legal Schnauzer. You can type in "Jessica Medeiros Garrison" or "Luther Strange," and it will bring up everything I've written on those subjects. You can do that for any subject, and that's the best way to see what I've written previously.

Mrs Mason (I'd hit that), do you have a notarized cuckold waiver letter from your husband for your being physically charitable (Christian that you are) to Icabod Crane's grandfather? What say you Mr Mason?

We really need more garbage to read. It's not like we don't have enough crap that comes our way everyday... There are always going to be people who talk...and talk...and talk... Whether this can be substantiated or not, why carry on and perpetuate a conversation that has nothing positive to contribute to the world??? Everyone has an opinion, so this is mine.

Why else would Mrs Bentley leave her husband? We all know its true.......she wanted no part of shame. He got what he deserves. He has done nothing for Alabama and he should go out with SHAME on his name. Dear God is there no one in Alabama that can that can run this state like Nick Saban can run a football team?

Oh no he won't because in AL now you cannot get on Medicaid because he refused to expand it and lost Federal support for us! I'm on disability and have no health care because of this. He sucks and deserves everything Mrs. Bentley can get in this divorce!

Are you serious, real news can be verified, I hope it's true I believe it's true I can't stand that two faced gutless yellow bellied lieing no good rotten piece of shit and I hope she takes everything he's got. He has done nothing for this state but screw it up and cost good people their jobs and put his Tuscaloosa buddies sons into his cabinet positions when they had no experience. He can suck ass and swallow

Mason is a public figure because she had been part of his administration. Then, if I'm reading this timeline correctly, it looks as if she was listed as a senior political adviser on his flights after she left his administration as communications director. So they were claiming her to be part of the administration; if that's true, then she's still a public figure. If it isn't true, it's one more thing they are lying about.

Why couldn't he have sex with other people on board? Have you ever been on an airplane? They're very noisy; there's a constant hum from the engines, and the air circulation system. If the bedroom is in a separate compartment, and if they avoided making loud vocal noises, they wouldn't be heard and they'd probably think they could get away with it. Sure, it would probably make the other passengers suspicious when they both went in the back, but people having affairs are often pretty dumb about it.

9:33 is exactly right about Clinton and Lewinsky. I don't condone what Clinton did, but I would add that there are several other differences in what he did and with this case. With Clinton, it was a one time thing, with Bentley, it seems to have been an ongoing affair. When you state that Clinton was on "official taxpayer duty" during that incident, it doesn't seem that clear cut to me. If I remember correctly, Lewinsky made the offer after hours, having returned from some fancy event. Although you could argue that the presidency is a 24 hour job and it was done in the Oval Office, but it still seems a stretch to claim that any additional taxpayer money was spent because of that incident. But Bentley had her travel on his plane (which would have burned extra fuel paid for by taxpayers) and that was when she was no longer communications director. Lewinsky didn't travel with Clinton. Bentley also used taxpayer paid trooper to facilitate the affair. No one was told to cover up for Clinton. Both incidents are bad, but Bentley's situation seems to be worse for wasting taxpayer dollars and because he claimed to be more Godly than the rest of us despite the fact that adultery is in God's Top Ten No-No List.

I sent the Good Doctor a Video of persons being used who were not trained to remove asbestos by a State Authorized agency. When they took off the asbestos, they did not notify the people who lived there and let it fly in the wind. Calling ADEM yielded statements such as; "any company, trained or untrained can remove asbestos" and other nonsensical answers to a formal complaint. Because I am black and because this man has never even visited the black community or championed its concerns, I am not sad to see him outed. We never had a governor. This man continued, like his predecessors to fly the Confederate flag, only removing it when GOOGLE demanded it because they would bring jobs and make him look good. My complaint has been to remove the people behind the flag, because the flag ain't never killed or hung nobody. It has always been these lying, cheating scoundrels like the one in charge of appointing many of his likes to posts that they do not deserve. No wonder they are so bold as to discriminate because there is no punishment.

Christians should be so real that people want to be like them, not hide in the closet. We need real people who are straightforward and honest to act as leaders. Why should we figure out if these people are cheating?

We need to make an example of the Governor, he needs to realize that first of all, adultery is a crime. It is an abomination for Christians. When a man lies to his wife and breaks an oath made before GOD, what the hell do you think he will do to us. Get all of these adulters out of here and we can actually put right minded people, who are real Christians. We need Chrisians and Patriots. This man, like every other Governor, could have taken down those rebel flags, but he decided to display the REBEL Flag. People this flag is and has been a symbol of hate and a lost war. It still flies in too many hearts. There are many many traitors in our state. The Governor was just one of them. Thanks to bad leadership falling off a cliff. This is just Revelation, not a good man falling. Revelation of a corrupt individual.

What an embarrassment to his wife and her family? How in the world could you sleep with a walking corpse? Puke! That is disgusting. If laws were broken, they both should pay and if that includes time in the gray bar. Tough Shit! It's funny how it came out around ASHLEY MADISON. The Mrs. should take every thing he has. He should be kicked out of office and the ugly bitch he slept with, needs an ass whipping. 50 years. Give a man a freakin pill and they think they got it going on. She obviously is a low life slut. Was she power hungry? She will end up hungry, too? Maybe they both will end up together in a joint cell and share their Swanson meals. He is a ballless wonder. Removed the confederate flag was bad enough. You have embarrassed your family and this state. I hope you get everything you deserve, which is not a freakin thing.

A pill and a whore = a marriage of 50 years destroyed! Hope he is happy. He should be made to address this issue. He is the governor. You are scared to keep up the flag, but you don't mind pulling down your pants for 4 hours. She is obviously on heroin. Will do anything to get more drugs. He looks like the walking dead. He is guilty! She is guilty! So, the non-believer's get ready...here it comes. No pun intended!!!

That flag is from another Country. ONe that lost the war and symbolizes slavery. I heard that he only took it down because GOOGLE REQUIRED IT. I am ashamed of anyone which such a history with the African American Community. There is nothing that Alabama should be proud about from the Confederacy; slavery, white men raping black women, then calling their own children black, slaves. They were rapists who have always whitewashed their behavior. Now teaching people that it is OK to hang, kill and disenfranchise the same people, who David Duke is right when he states that we are more likely to have a slaveowner as an ancestor than he is? What are they proud of. If we could unite under one flag, that would be a start. While the South stays divided, Washington is giving away all of our rights that ought to inalienable. The fact that this man continued to fly the flag from a lost war at the capitol is a shame on his behalf. Who can trust someone like that anyway. He has people who are known hate group members as protectors of our state. Give me a break, paint yourself black and put on an afro for a while. You will see what I mean. Bettter still become a black mother and have to wonder if these sleeper cell cops are out hunting your children to kill them or frame and jail them because of the color of their skin. That flag should have been gone long time ago. Remember, they lost the war. That is a flag of REBEL FORCES. No Governor should be allowed to fly that; worrying about GAY Marriage, he cannot even stay married and he was supposedly straight. We need our inalienable rights, not to be monitors of others bedroom when we cannot even lead by example of how not to cheat, lie and be a traitor to our own country.

8:07am said, "I don't condone what Clinton did, but..." Seriously? Any time a public official betrays the trust of his wife he undermines his ability to govern. At best, If no one knows but he just suspects that someone is aware of his transgression it alters how he governs because he will make decisions that are least likely to reveal his wrongdoing or perhaps to keep the affair active. At worst, his supporters and advesaries will use it as leverage against him. He can no longer make decisions in the best interest of the people. Whatever happened to the idea that leaders, especially civic leaders, should avoid even the appearance of impropriety? I don’t care if you are Christian, Jewish, Hindu or aetheist, Republican, Democrat, or Libertarian, is that really too much to ask for considering the stakes involved? Especially at the national level? I’m sorry, but once you take a bite of that forbidden fruit, you are totally comprimised as a leader. Morals aside, I don’t want a limp wristed man or woman in either office who lacks the judgement or discipline to tell an intern or aid, “No, this is a terrible idea that will have devastating consequences for you, me, our families and the entire country. No.” And I damn sure do not want a sexual predator in the governor’s mansion or oval office. To this day, people blame Monica Lewinsky for nearly ending the Clinton presidency. According to many, he just responded like any man, and lied like any man would while she was nothing more than a common road whore. To imply that Clinton was the victim of a 22 year old female intern doesn’t say much for the man elected to the most powerful office in the world but it certainly speaks volumes about our misogynistic culture. While Clinton has gone on to huge popularity and has cleansed himself of all dirt – money and power covers a multitude of sins -- Lewinsky has remained in limbo, surfacing occasionally with a stab at trying to do something with her life. Excuse me while I go rinse the bile from my mouth.

It suddenly makes sense! I couldn't fathom why Mrs. Bentley suddenly filed for divorce before the end of his second term when they've been living apart amicably for so many months as she continued to play the role of first lady. At first I thought she must be having a mental breakdown to not just wait it out and get a quiet divorce after he left office. But the rumors of financial impropriety with state and/or campaign funds bring it sharply into focus. They need to get all the assets into the wife's name before the charges come down.

Interesting that they quit naming the executive protection officer on flights shortly into his term. Somebody mentioned 2011, go to open.alabama.gov/payee and look at the nice pay increase his EPO got in 2011 as his salary almost doubled. I guess now we know why he got promoted. The below article has the full name you can search on open.alabama. So if he was illegally getting paid and has since retired can the state get the money back?

This is not about Clinton. This is Alabama, my home state. I am so ashamed of our Gov. Bently and the woman that he is involved with. Look what you have done to your families and the black mark that you have put on Alabama

When will ADULTERY, the Crime be enforced against these Good Christian men. It is not a Black mark. It is a white mark on Alabama. This and Ashley Madison has clearly set forth the unscrupulous, maninly white men who are acting one way and doing criminal, immoral activities in private. The problem is clear. It is black and white. The man who is doing all of this is white. It is a crime, and he is the absolute best person to make an example out of. Alabama is so proud of what it claims to stand for, morality, and all of that hogwash, Adultery being a crime. Wonder if the state legislature will take that off the books now? Why not enforce all of the laws. Roy Moore made all that fuss about Gay Marriage, what about cheating on straight marriage. The bible never addressed Gay marriage, it did address adultery. When will someone read and enforce the laws that strengthen our communities and line up with the word of GOD? The problem is that these people are idols and they are not treated as real people. Get a good PR person, make up a lot of lies and you are now the Governor of the state. Push that state into a 200,000,000 deficit and no one cares. What is this? Just let this have been a black man? The jail would be coming to meet him. No. the Governor cannot commit a crime and get away with it. He should be held to a higher standard. He calls himself, a Christian and a leader. As the jails continue to be overcrowded with black men who had a $5 crack rock, a far less crime than the Governor screwing over the State, yet this white man's crime will likely go unpunished, while all of the people say; 'pray for him'. Yes, I will pray that he gets treated like a black man and jailed for his crimes and have to go to the same prisons that are overcrowded and filled with a disproportionate number of Americans of African Descent. Get over it, what we tolerate will not change. Will Alabama turn its head on this very heinous crime that destroys the fabric of families and guts the very integrity of this state, or will the Christians stand up and say, enough!!! Justice and liberty for all. This will teach people who want to lead. Let him be punished. Where is the money for this state? Why would one man make over a half million dollars to watch him screw over all of us, (executive affairs protection)? Do the Crime, Do the time. Stop sugarcoating wrongdoing. We need leaders who stand for Godliness, not just claim to do so, just to be popular then do abominable things. People, this is deception. It is pure and simple satanism. Put forth a pristine person who is really involved in heinous activities. He had a lot of people fooled but not me. The state is 200 million in debt and has no budget solution in sight. Where oh where has the Good Christian White man been; screwing around with the hired married woman? Committing crimes for which he will not be punished because of the color of his skin, while the state is paying out the ying yang? Is this man really going to try to lead our state in budget negotiations in a special session? I see a bankruptcy in the works.

yes, white people's fault again. Millions of immigrants flock to western countries because white people suck, right? Give me a break. 50 years of marriage down the drain, yup, someone screwed around most likely. I hate it for them. It's not the end of the world though and everything will work out in the end. BTW no secret to a budget for Alabama..think about it.

while the rest of the world is consumed with a refugee crisis, Alabama is consumed with the governor's affair and impending financial crisis. only in alabama you say, thank heavens. withe all the problems in the state and country you would think people might get down to the actual business of running the state. can't this guy be re called.

Have I just missed their articles, or is The Tuscaloosa News mysteriously silent about this whole matter? With the major parties being from Tuscaloosa, it seems like they should really be getting the best scoop on this story.

Mainstream news, unfortunately too much of it is mainly hogwash and brainwash that has been whitewashed. They are not about the truth and depth of character that requires real work and the truth apparently does not keep advertising itself, especially when something like this is the reality. This whole thing is a farce. Why do Alabama keep Adultery as a crime if they will not prosecute it? Lets see the law enforced. This is a serious problem for our state and its citizens.

On Sept. 26 from 1 to 3 at the Dothan Downtown library we will have a meeting called community matters. We will examine the real issues that we need to be considering to make America, America again. I am interested in keeping the peace among all persons who believe in God and Country. It is time that we Americans worked together to return to non GMO food, working for a living in American manufacturing companies and the races realize their differences and take the steps to recognize and stamp out wrongdoing no matter he color creed or national origin. We are all in trouble when we are forced to have Bruce Jenner touted as a hero and a clerk of the court put in jail. The Governor of this state should be exposed for all to see. It is no reason for someone to take on a position of leadership and then defile that opportunity and the people that sit under him suffer. Let's all strive towards getting God to Bless America, Again. It is going to take the people who are complaining to stop and change the course of history in this country. We cannot sit idle anymore. We believe in the Constitution and positive social change. Come Join Us for COMMUNITY MATTERS - A positive Thinktank for Change in our communities and our country.

As I read many of the comments, it appears to me that even in the face of truth meaning wife is filing for a divorce many of you are blaming the reporter and not governor or his side piece!sadly Mr.I'm a fake Christian hired his mistress and had her on payroll which is unethical and immoral.

I heard today that the Holy Governor Bentley's Mistress picked Jeff Session's replacement in the Senate. I guess she's more than just an easy bang, but has got him by the Nuts, and tells him what to do. Maybe he should appear on the 700 Club and tell us how Jesus said it was alright to commit Adultery. Or, maybe he got Divine Forgiveness and join or the other Lying, Cheating, Huckster Televangelist Hypocrites, we see on the Boob Tube every day !!!